Act reasonable, but quickly, on gun control

The latest in a chain of gun mass murders evokes sadness and helplessness, while much of what I've read and heard gives me little hope that we will do anything to prevent another massacre. Yet we must.

Our problems with guns and death do not only lie with the lone gunman we conveniently find solely responsible for so much turmoil over the decades (I write this on Martin Luther King Day). Rather the root of the problem lies in us.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that there were just more than 11,000 gun homicides in the U.S. and 19,000 suicides, along with 55,000 plus non-fatal injuries in 2010. Can you honestly believe that the easy availability of guns and ammunition magazines of all sizes does not make this killing and maiming easier?

Guns enable the shooter to maim or kill at a distance and this promotes their prominence as the weapon of choice over knives, bats, and hammers so often cited by gun apologists who'd have you believe that these are just as effective (see CDC figures on this). Can a murderer with a knife kill as many people as quickly as one with a gun?

When gun advocates talk of homicides or deaths by guns they often compare the U.S. to Honduras, South Africa, Columbia, Venezuela and other Third World countries where death rates per 100,000 are much higher than ours; however, the U.S. ranks 5th in total murders with firearms behind South Africa, Columbia, Venezuela and Thailand.

But comparing U.S. total murders and a murder rate of 3.6 per 100,000 with other industrialized countries tells a different story: Canada had 173 murders in 2011 with a rate of 0.5; Italy, 246, .71; England and Wales 41, 0.1; Germany 158, 0.2; France 35, 0.1; Japan-11, 0.1 according to the Abstract of US Vital Statistics and the CDC.

And we are far and away the leader in total firearm deaths in all categories for First World countries.

Why did it take the deaths of six- and seven-year-olds in Newtown, Conn. to outrage people enough to want to do something to stanch the slaughter? The lives of those in Aurora, Colo., Virginia Tech., and Columbine ended with guns, yet they had their time in the news cycle and then we moved on. And are the 30 nameless, faceless individuals whose lives are blasted and ripped from them daily of even lesser value?

We, including the most innocent, are at the mercy of anyone, anywhere, anytime, who has a gun of any type and firepower who for whatever reason decides to walk into a theater, school or shopping mall and pull the trigger.

If reasonable gun-control proposals can prevent even some of these deaths why aren't we doing something?

But would posting armed guards in all schools with their many entrances and windows and arming teachers as suggested by the NRA make students safe? And how many guards would it take to secure a school?

I taught for many years and am a Marine veteran trained to use a weapon, but I would not feel comfortable with a concealed weapon in the classroom because I can think of too many scenarios where it might fall into the wrong hands.

But even if we had the manpower, what about when kids go home? Should we station armed guards at every bus stop, restaurant, and theater, any public space?

Do we want our society an armed camp that could quickly become a shooting gallery? Remember the Empire State Building incident where trained police wounded nine bystanders as they were firing at a killer?

We can continue to do nothing and suffer more slaughter or, as advocates suggest, arm teachers, principals, doctors, lawyers, judges, or anyone who can pass what now passes for background checks. Or we can pass and enforce reasonable controls.

I suggest we demand our elected representatives do the following:

? Close the gun show/private sale loophole and require meaningful cross-referenced background checks and waiting periods for all sales to screen out felons, or those with a history of mental illness;

? Limit the numbers of rounds (bullets) and the magazines that hold them to whatever law enforcement recommend for reasonable use by sportsmen and self-defense;

? Reserve weapons that can easily be converted to automatic fire, such as those used in the recent killings, for military and police use. Reduce the already large number of these weapons out there by encouraging states and municipalities to implement buyback programs;

? Make clear that doctors and psychologists may ask patients about gun ownership and safety, especially those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, drug problem or exhibit suicidal or sociopathic behavior. Note that current health care law only prohibits collecting and maintaining records about ownership, use or storage of lawfully owned firearms.

We must tell our representatives that we are sick of politicians, the NRA and others receiving contributions from gun and ammunition makers putting their interests ahead of our safety and that of our children, families and friends.

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Act reasonable, but quickly, on gun control

The latest in a chain of gun mass murders evokes sadness and helplessness, while much of what I've read and heard gives me little hope that we will do anything to prevent another massacre. Yet we

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